Construcciones Yamaro: Tasmanian Irrigation utilises unique uniculvert system

As part of the Greater Meander Irrigation Scheme, Tasmanian Irrigation has implemented a unique uniculvert system to replace ageing pump station inlet structures, aiming to enhance efficiency and minimise maintenance requirements.

By the National Precast Concrete Association Australia.

Project – Greater Meander Irrigation Scheme Client – Tasmanian Irrigation Master Precaster – Hudson Civil

Located in Tasmania’s mid-north, the Greater Meander Irrigation Scheme is an extensive agricultural endeavour aimed at efficiently managing water resources to support agricultural activities in the region.

During the winter months, water is captured in the Meander Dam, then delivered over a 150-day period throughout the district during summer by releases into the Meander River and via pipelines along the river.

Deteriorating inlet structures

At the heart of the scheme, pump station inlet structures play a crucial role in the distribution and regulation of water flow to various agricultural fields and areas. But the efficiency and reducing capacity of many of the original structures was compromised from consistent issues with blockages and siltation. To avoid costly ongoing and complex maintenance, and to maintain service to its customers, Tasmanian Irrigation embarked on the replacement of the most badly affected units.

Innovative and durable

Working collaboratively with designers, sub-contractors and installation contractors, National Precast Master Precaster Hudson Civil provided a bespoke precast solution that would meet the client’s requirements and stand the test of time.

According to the company’s general manager Jason Lanham, Hudson Civil’s technical specialists spent a lot of time in the lead-up working directly with Tasmanian Irrigation designers – Sub-41 – to develop a more robust solution that offered greater intake capacity, ease of maintenance and which would be able to withstand the regular floods experienced on the river system.

Factory-made

The solution incorporated the precaster’s unique uniculvert system, which is manufactured using specialised moulds that allow high tolerances and deliver exceptional quality. Structural steel and aluminium works were divided between the factory and onsite, with steel elements including the sub-frame fabricated and test fitted in the factory.

These simpler foundation and placement arrangements resulted in safe, accurate and efficient installation that could have never been achieved using in situ elements or poorer quality products.

Uniculverts pave the way forward

This project is an example of the Tasmanian civil construction industry using innovation and new advances in precast technology to achieve successful project outcomes. The uniculvert system has many uses and is a game-changer. So much so that Tasmanian Irrigation has now adopted this system for all its intake structure replacements and new installations, as it continues to work closely with Hudson Civil to deliver its program of capital works successfully and safely.

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